What to See in Jaipur

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Being an important heritage city, Jaipur tops the list on a traveler's trip to Rajasthan. The charm and glory of the old days is still prevalent in the forts and the meandering streets of Jaipur, the beckoning of which is hard to resist. Founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II, the Maharaja of Amber, Jaipur has endless attractions waiting for the tourists to explore. Jaipur has its own share of attractions in the form of forts, palaces, temples and gardens. Bearing the mark of royalty, the forts and palaces are the finest specimens of architecture.

Among the fascinating forts, the Amber Fort deserves the first mention. Slightly pastel yellow in color, this fort served as the royal palace of the Kachwaha kinsmen. Next in importance comes the Jaigarh Fort famous for housing the Jaivana Cannon, famous as the largest cannon on wheels in the whole world. The fort also offers a spectacular view of the Aravalli ranges. The third most important fort is the Nahargarh Fort. The scene of the Man Sarobar Lake from this fort is simply awesome.

The palaces of Jaipur take you back to the golden age. The notable names include the City Palace and Jal Mahal. The City Palace however requires a special mention. A magnificent specimen of Mughal architecture, it houses the Chandra Mahal, Diwan-e-Khas, Diwan-e-Aam and Ridhi Sidhi Pol, the notable gateway. The Hawa Mahal built exclusively for the royal ladies was also a part of the City Palace.

Once in Jaipur, do make it a point to visit the temples that are strewn all over the city. Notable temples in Jaipur are the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Ahshardham Temple, Govind Devji Temple, Moto Doongari, Shivdas Pura Jain Mandir and the ancient Hindu pilgrimage site of Galtaji near Sisodia Rani Garden on the Jaipur Agra highway.

The numerous gardens in Jaipur add the much needed green color to this otherwise desert city. The gardens worth a visit here are the Zoological Garden, Sisodia Rani Palace and Garden, Vidyadhar Garden, Ram Niwas Garden and Central Park.

Without a tour of the Jantar Mantar, your Jaipur trip remains incomplete. This is one of the biggest astronomical observatories among five of them and was build by Maharaja Jai Singh. A trip to the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, B.M Birla Auditorium and Convention Centre, Ramgarh and Statue Circle sort of completes your sightseeing tour of Jaipur.